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Thread: Where to live? outside California, but still has a car community.

  1. #1
    Senior Member Scott A's Avatar
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    Where to live? outside California, but still has a car community.

    Hello, I am a California Native, I used to live in Germany and I have traveled to Europe about 20 times.
    I have had many older Porsches for about 45 yrs. I like to work on the cars and paint them myself. So I like a paint store close by.
    I also like to have a Porsche community in my area....right now I am right in the middle of that culture...but it is just too expensive.
    We pay over 10 grand just in property taxes each year.
    Where are some other vintage car communities outside California?
    I have considered the Phoenix area, Colorado, Portland, Milano, Italy. I am talking to a friend about areas in Mexico.
    but there are probably other areas I don't know about.
    Does anyone love their area? and still find the things they need to work on the cars?
    thanks, Scott

    Current long term ownership: 63 Cab, 71 911, 74 914

  2. #2
    Maybe Southern Oregon. As my old boss used to say “California weather at Oregon Prices.”
    Pretty quiet in that part of the state. Freddie H. Seems to have done well with his move. If you like or can handle ~8 months of rainy/cool weather then Portland, OR would be fine, but it’s become expensive.
    Regards,
    Bill (Formerly of SF Bay Area and Monterey County now living in Portland)
    Bill
    1969 911T - sold
    2001 911 Turbo - sold
    1996 911 C4S - returned
    1982 911SC - gone
    1960 356 Roadster - sold

  3. #3
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    If thinking internationally (outside of London) the UK is not so expensive. There are areas with great Porsche resources and great active community in many areas of the U.K.

    Regular world class intentional events. Goodwood FOS, revival, Silversone classic are among the very best in the world. An active Porsche and other motoring scenes and clubs at a more accessible tier with friendly events happening regularly; small country so easy to get to any event. Short plane hop to or car rail tunnel or ferry ride "continental" Europe for events there.

    Regarding the necessary facilities to maintain cars, few would argue UK is preeminent in Motorsport industry worldwide. Listening to winner anthems played at things like F1 events of late it is easy to assume that Mercedes team are based in Germany (and while the corporate HQ are there) both the team HQ and engine are in uk. Likewise Red Bull. In fact the majority of f1 are here. Even the the patriotic Scuderia Ferrari have in past had their F1 bases here in UK. F1 plus strength in other racing disciplines (rally, endurance) and depth of British motoring industry heritage is what creates an automotive and Motorsport cluster and halo effect a Motorsport valley with fantastic depth and breadth in an extended industry supply chain skills, equipment all of which can be useful whatever the discipline and level. Very active historic and classic scenes.

    Think of many greats from around the world in many eras and they have headed to UK -- voting with feet snd speaks volumes.

    Maybe not the cheapest country on list but deep heritage in car matters ...you wouldn't need to worry about sunburn but having said that the climate while often joked about is in reality relatively moderate buy many standards. Brolly can be handy but not as often as folks might think.
    S
    Last edited by 911MRP; 02-19-2018 at 11:29 AM.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Scott A's Avatar
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    I should have mentioned the UK, I think of it all the time, I just thought it was also expensive.
    I will have to look into that more. I would love to live there half the year or more.
    Are there specific towns I should research?
    3/4ths of my great-grandparents came from England, the rest from Denmark.

    Current long term ownership: 63 Cab, 71 911, 74 914

  5. #5
    +1 to Southern or Central Oregon. Great car cultures in both locations. Weather is far superior to Northern OR unless you love rain... We chose CO (Bend) for the beer and scenic beauty, but the Ashland to Grants Pass area is equally nice and doesn’t get the snow that CO gets.

    Do you ever make it to the Sacramento or Bay Area 356 Events? If so, I’ll look forward to meeting you at one of those.
    Cheers,

    Ron

    1961 356 Roadster Outlaw
    1969 911E ROW Coupe ‘Orangina’
    1968 911 SWT Burgundy Red project

  6. #6
    Senior Member Chris Pomares's Avatar
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    I would suggest Colorado as it has an extensive Porsche community. Many like me are from SoCal. I left the left coast in 72, but I'm looking to leave here in 2 or 3 years. It has become a mini version of LA. Bad traffic, aggressive drivers, and more people on I70 going to the ski areas in the middle of the week then on weekends just a few years ago. If you prefer NY, Illinois, and Cali politics this is your kind of place. I identify more with a WY, ID, TX, UT and AZ state of mind. The top of my current list is, Boise, Grand Junction, Flagstaff, St George, etc. As I'm close to 66 I don't need to live in a 5 million plus community anymore. I can work on Porsche's anywhere and my main business is internet based. I wish you good luck on your search. When you find paradise let us know.
    ChrisPomares
    1959 Auratium Green 356A Super w/ Rudge wheels
    1970 Irish Green 914-6 w/2.2S
    Current -1967 Bahama Yellow 912 POLO 2cam4 #1
    www.reSeeWorks.com
    Personalized Vintage Porsche's and parts
    I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself-Ferdinand Porsche

  7. #7
    Senior Member raspritz's Avatar
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    CO is great, but really, $10K/yr in property taxes is no big deal these days. I pay considerably more than that living in Denver. And I paid even more 20 years ago living in Madison, Wiscconsin. IMHO, you get what you pay for.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by raspritz View Post
    CO is great, but really, $10K/yr in property taxes is no big deal these days. I pay considerably more than that living in Denver. And I paid even more 20 years ago living in Madison, Wiscconsin. IMHO, you get what you pay for.
    And forget Texas too. But that said, we have no state income tax and you get more for house for your money. I will admit that natural beauty is lacking in North Texas.
    Neil
    '73 911S targa

  9. #9
    Senior Member dirk07's Avatar
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    If the property tax is your only issue, buy a cheaper house?

    https://smartasset.com/taxes/califor...tor#g82yp1Z0qV

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott A View Post
    I should have mentioned the UK, I think of it all the time, I just thought it was also expensive.
    I will have to look into that more. I would love to live there half the year or more.
    Are there specific towns I should research?
    3/4ths of my great-grandparents came from England, the rest from Denmark.
    I live in London but for better value for money and more space need to be further out. Here is a guide from one of the broadsheets. Not all on list are cheap however. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/s...17-3qkwjnvrm#/

    Sussex, Oxfordshire, North Yorkshire come to mind as having specialists but frankly most UK regions have them and active Porsche scene. If UK is on list you haven't already post on DDK forum and there will be plenty of advice from all points of the U.K.

    Slightly old...Article on Motorsport valley.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/23048643.

    The graphic gives the appearance of a wide area but the dots are a relatively small cluster. In the past I was asked to lead the strategic review of the sport/industry on behalf the governing body of four-wheel Motorsport and the U.K. Central government and was privileged to get around all corners of this sport/ industry from grass roots karting and off-road e.g. rallying up to to F1. Seeing it and meeting the stakeholders from all levels and disciplines gave me an appreciation of what the UK has today and the heritage -- all of which rubs off and creates the capability that feeds the classic car "hobby".

    I enjoy the heritage. Only recently I took in a 20 mile loop into Surrey to collect something and visited the former Cooper , McLaren, Tyrell and AC former factory locations in that sweep -- just for the hell of it when passing them. The old Cooper building in Surrey is now owned by long established Porsche specialist Charles Ivey.
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    I don't know how provincial UK property pricing compares to California but relative to London there are certainly more affordable buys further out -- go beyond the London commuter belt. Quick comparison on price is probaly the first step given your comment.
    Last edited by 911MRP; 02-20-2018 at 04:48 AM. Reason: Add photos

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